Ficus microcarpa-- tough, but not indestructible

[fastfeat]

I've watched this group of "species" Ficus microcarpa (not the far more common F. microcarpa 'Nitida' that's typically seen in SoCal) for many years on a South St substreet island here in Lakewood. This is really one of the best uses (aside from park plantings) for this large-growing tree. Unfortunately, in recent years, the City's tree trimming contractor (a former employer) and presumably the City, in a likely attempt to reduce the time spent pruning these large trees (flat rate pruning citywide was SOP) have made some rather drastic reductions to the canopy that have severely imperiled several of these uncommon specimen trees. (Repairs to the curb/street may be contributing factors as well, but are at least five years old.)

The trees have been over-thinned (and reduced in some cases), resulting in tip dieback (when the Hell does that happen to healthy Ficus?!) or else over-production of watersprouts in the interior of the scaffold.

Healthy:

Healthy (Left); overpruned, with watersprouts trying to compensate (Right):

Overpruned, with dieback, from too much foliage removed. Probably a goner:

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Do NOT let your trees, even Ficus, be pruned like this! No more than 30% of foliage should be removed at one time (per ISA), and even less (or none) if the tree is mature (or severely stressed). Might as well just finish removing the tree if you're going to overprune like these examples-- it'll be cheaper.

[Kumar]

Hmm - not nearly as indestructable as its relatives - F. Religiosa and F. Benghalenses. These get completely defoliated many times over quuite intentionally aand seem to enjoy regenerating

[ariscott]

It is amazing that the arborist in Darwin don't really know what they are doing. I am sure that is why some of the african mahogany kept on dropping limbs. They just chop chop chop and then blame it on the trees. Lately, they tried to make topiary out of Hibiscus Tileaceous rubra... I almost felt sick!!

Regards, Ari

[Geoff]

I find that hard to believe it will die from overpruning... I have seen large trees (though not quite that large) get topped... NO leaves left... and ALL the branches removed. Just a concrete-looking post... and they always come back (eventually). I'm not saying this is good practice, but other than trees that have been rounded up after chopping down, or literally dessicated to death, I don't know if I've seen any die. I did rot a few in some pots once. I saw an entire row of trees along a row of buildings chopped to the ground (or just a few inches above the ground)... and as far as I could tell, they ALL came back, though it did take them a year to start putting out branches again. So short of of dessication, poisoning, freezing or rotting, this plant is pretty close to indestructable, at least here in southern California.

[Geoff]

Sadly I do not have photos of these larger 'beheadings', but I have a few examples of much smaller trees beheaded and turned into Indian Laurel Lolipops

[bubba]

I am not certain if this is microcarpa but this practice is very common in this area:

[fastfeat]

To Geoff and Bubba--

Individual trees respond differently to pruning, much like people respond differently to medical treatment. When trees are started young as sheared specimens, they are much more amenable (generally) than mature specimens which are not growing vigorously. Also, trees which are headed-back regularly (including pollarding) can sustain themselves in such a state for many years, but other problems (such as wounds not being able to heal in timely manner) may occur.

My point is that many Ficus are indeed tough trees, but they are not infallible. And it is disgraceful, IMHO, for a tree maintenance company to sacrifice publicly-owned trees for their own bottom line.